Australia is a developed country where population, economy and opportunities are growing quickly. Cities such as Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth have modern western lifestyles, offering every kind of service, work and fun. Australia is therefore becoming an attractive option of migration for more and more people.

Australia’s economy is growing and solid. As a result, The Australian dollar has the reputation of being the strongest and safest currency in the world. Most Australians are middle class and many jobs are available. Australia also has the highest minimum wages in the world. People, even those casual jobs, are better paid than those in Europe.

The Australian society is very multicultural, young and open-minded because of its recent history of mass immigration. Immigrants are not regarded as foreigners. Racial discrimination is rare in Australia. If an immigrant is smart and has good English and the right attitude, s/he may easily find a job.

Australia recognizes dual citizenship. All permanent residents may eventually qualify as Australian citizens. Children born there may apply for citizenship even though their parents have not qualified.

The Medicare system in Australia provides comprehensive health care services ranging from free medical care in public hospitals to lower costs for prescription medicines.

The Australian provides free or subsidized primary, secondary and tertiary education. The Australian education system not only emphasizes academic performance but also places equal emphasis on how students interact, learn and do in sports.

Some cities in Australia are rated as the best cities to live in the world, in terms of stability, culture, education, infrastructure, etc. Melbourne has its overall rating at 97.5% and has occupied the top position for years.

Australia maintains a universal visa regime. Every non-citizen in Australia must have a visa, regardless of whether s/he is a tourist or looking for a new life as a permanent resident. The visa issued may be as a result of an application or granted automatically by law.

There are more than 100 kinds of visas in Australia. Australian visas can be categorized by different types, namely, visitor visas, student visas, family visas, temporary work visas, skilled visas, employer sponsored visas, business, investment and retirement visas, refugee and humanitarian visas and others. Each category is further sub-divided into different subclasses. Each visa is unique and has its own requirements for application. Visa applicants should consider their visiting purposes before applying for them. Fortunately, as the Australia Visa System is one of the most advanced systems in the world, it provides a number of well-established visa application pathways for visa applicants.

Business visas include Business Owner Visa (Subclass 890), State or Territory Sponsored Business Owner Visa (Subclass 892) and Business Talent (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 132).

A business owner who is operating a business in Australia on a temporary visa and wants to become a permanent resident can apply for the Business Owner Visa (Subclass 890). The visa is valid for a period of up to five years. During the visa duration, the visa holder may enjoy the same social and economic benefits as the citizen of Australia. If certain requirements are met, the visa holder may also apply for citizenship.

The State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner Visa (Subclass 892) is a part of the Business Skill Entry Program. It is a permanent residency visa for those who have owned and operated a business in Australia for at least two years. The visa holder can stay in Australia for five years. However, the visa applicant must be sponsored by a state or territory government before application.

The Business Talent (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 132) is a permanent residency visa for people who want to establish or develop a new or existing business in Australia. It has two streams – the Significant Business History Stream for high caliber business owners or part-owners who want to do business in Australia, and the Venture Capital Entrepreneur Stream for people who have sourced venture capital funding from a member of the Australian Venture Capital Association Limited. Visa applicants must be nominated by a state or territory government agency.

The Investor Visa (Subclass 891), State or Territory Sponsored Investor Visa (Subclass 893), Business Innovation and Investment Visa (Subclass 188) – Provisional and Business Innovation and Investment Visa (Subclass 888) – Permanent are all investor visas.

The Investor Visa (Subclass 891) is basically a permanent visa for individuals who themselves or along with their partners have held a designated investment in Australia for a period of four years. Visa holders can travel to and from Australia for five years from the date the visa is granted.

Individuals who are sponsored by a state or territory authority and have held a designated investment in Australia for four years can apply for a permanent visa – the State/Territory Sponsored Investor Visa (Subclass 893). Visa holders are allowed to live in Australia permanently.

The Business Innovation and Investment Visa (Subclass 188) – Provisional is a 4-year visa for investors and business owners who wish to establish business operations in Australia. It has five streams – business innovation, investor, significant investor, premium investor and entrepreneur. Visa applicants must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government. Adetailed business proposal must be submitted together with the application. Application involves two stages. At the first stage, business migrants apply for a provisional visa. If they meet certain criteria, they can further apply for a permanent visa.

The Business Innovation and Investment Visa (Subclass 888) – Permanent is a state-nominated visa for business and investor migrants who hold a 4-year provisional subclass 188 visa and are seeking permanent residency. The nomination requirements for this visa are based on the business innovation stream, business investment stream and significant investor stream under subclass 188. The visa is valid for five years with an option for further permanent residency or citizenship.

Visa application in Australia, particular for business migration, is complicated, but CNATPL is ready to help. CNATPL partner with a law firm in Australia and it provides advisory services on all kinds of Australian migration. It has expertise in representing business organizations and entrepreneurs in a full spectrum of business migration. Its goal is to ensure that the whole immigration process is smooth and the clients get their

visas. Come to visit CNATPL at your earliest convenience if you are interested in, or have any questions about, Australian migration.